葛根素对Akt通路调控3T3-L1脂肪细胞分化的影响

为了研究葛根素（puerarin）对3T3-L1前体脂肪细胞分化的影响,探索其在成脂分化过程中的潜在作用机制,试验在脂肪形成过程中将0、10、50 μmol/L葛根素加入到诱导分化培养基中诱导分化,分别通过油红O染色法及甘油三酯酶法检测葛根素对3T3-L1脂肪细胞的脂滴积累、甘油三酯的影响;采用实时荧光定量PCR检测脂肪细胞中CCAAT-增强子结合蛋白α（C/EBPα）和过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ（PPARγ）的mRNA表达量,Western blotting检测脂肪形成相关转录因子及Akt信号通路的蛋白水平的表达量。结果表明,10 μmol/L葛根素极显著增加了成熟脂肪细胞中脂滴和甘油三酯（TG）的积聚,极显著促进了脂肪形成相关转录因子C/EBPα和PPARγ的mRNA和蛋白水平的表达量（P<0.01）。进一步研究发现,与对照组相比,葛根素的刺激可增强Akt信号通路Ser473蛋白的磷酸化表达水平,表明葛根素对成脂分化过程的促进作用很大程度上是通过Akt信号通路的磷酸化来实现的。综上所述,葛根素能够促进3T3-L1前体脂肪细胞的分化,改善胰岛素敏感性,其作用机制与激活Akt信号通路Ser473位点的磷酸化水平有关。本试验结果可为研究胰岛素的效应机制提供新见解,为胰岛素抵抗相关疾病的治疗提供新思路。     

二脒那秦内源性激活血管紧张素转化酶2对细胞脂质沉积的抑制效应及其机制

旨在通过诱导3T3-L1前脂肪细胞转分化为3T3-L1脂肪细胞，探讨二脒那秦（DIZE）内源性激活血管紧张素转化酶2（ACE 2）对细胞脂质沉积的抑制效应及机制。对3T3-L1前脂肪细胞转分化，将分化成功的3T3-L1脂肪细胞分为对照组、DIZE组（12.5、25 μmol·L^-1处理），siACE2组和siACE2+DIZE组（siACE2干扰后+25 μmol·L^-1 DIZE），作用48 h，取上清和细胞进行试验：1）测定细胞上清中三酰甘油和葡萄糖含量；2）油红O染色细胞，并进行定量分析；3） Western blot检测细胞内ACE2和脂肪酸合成关键酶或因子FAS、ACC和SREBP-1c及葡萄糖转运蛋白GLUT4与氧化分解关键酶CS的蛋白表达水平。结果显示：1）成功诱导得到了3T3-L1脂肪细胞，前脂肪细胞诱导至第14天，有95%以上细胞内出现脂滴；2）确定了DIZE作用浓度为12.5和25 μmol·L^-1，处理时间为48 h，并用该药物浓度及时间处理3T3-L1脂肪细胞，细胞上清中三酰甘油含量显著降低（P<0.05），葡萄糖含量显著升高（P<0.05）；25 μmol·L^-1 DIZE处理组细胞脂滴减少，siACE2组无显著变化，siACE2+DIZE组脂滴蓄积介于对照组和DIZE组之间； 25 μmol·L^-1 DIZE组ACE2蛋白水平显著高于对照组（P<0.05）；siACE2组显著下调（P<0.05），siACE2+DIZE组较siACE2组无明显变化；3）与对照组相比25 μmol·L^-1 DIZE组细胞中FAS、ACC和SREBP-1c蛋白表达下调，siACE2组和siACE2+DIZE组则表达均上调；4）与对照组相比，25 μmol·L^-1 DIZE组GLUT4和CS蛋白表达水平显著上调（P<0.05），siACE2组和siACE2+DIZE组则均显著下调（P<0.05）。综上所述，DIZE处理通过介导脂肪细胞ACE2的内源性激活改善了脂肪细胞的脂肪沉积。其机理：一方面抑制脂质合成；另一方面促进葡萄糖摄取和氧化代谢，两方面协同减少了脂肪沉积。结果提示，ACE2或DIZE可作为防控脂肪沉积发生和发展的潜在靶点或药物。     

过表达circNMT1促进水牛脂肪细胞的成脂分化

旨在鉴定非编码RNA circNMT1,明确其组织和细胞的表达模式,以及探究过表达circNMT1对脂肪细胞分化的影响。本试验以30月龄中国沼泽水牛(信阳水牛,n=3)的心、肝、脾、肺、肾、背最长肌、背部皮下脂肪组织和前体脂肪细胞以及3T3-L1细胞为试验材料。通过半定量PCR和实时荧光定量PCR (real-time quantitative PCR,qRT-PCR)技术对circNMT1进行鉴定、细胞定位并明确其时空表达模式。进一步分别将其过表达到3T3-L1和水牛前体脂肪细胞中,利用形态学方法及定量方法检测过表达后脂滴累积情况,同时采用qRT-PCR检测脂肪标志基因相对表达水平的变化。结果表明,circNMT1是真实存在且稳定表达的circRNA,在水牛前体脂肪细胞的细胞核和细胞质中均表达,且在脂肪组织和成熟的脂肪细胞中高表达(P<0.001)。功能获得性试验表明,在3T3-L1细胞和水牛脂肪细胞,circNMT1显著促进脂肪细胞的脂滴积累,并且显著提高成脂标志基因PPARG、C/EBPα和FABP4的相对表达水平(P<0.01)。circNMT1可能是水牛脂肪细胞分化的正调控因子,这为circNMT1在水牛脂肪细胞中的调节作用提供了新见解。     

The influence of dexamethasone and insulin on expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein isoforms during preadipocyte differentiation in porcine stromal-vascular cell cultures: evidence for very early expression of C/EBPalpha

Expression of CAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) isoforms was examined in primary cultures of adipose tissue stromal vascular (S-V) cells before and during preadipocyte differentiation. Immunocytochemistry showed that the proportions and numbers of C/EBPalpha-, C/EBPbeta-, and C/EBPdelta-reactive cells were maximized after seeding and plating from d 0 to 3 in fetal bovine serum (FBS). However, there were few preadipocytes (AD-3+) and fewer cells with lipid and the number of C/EBPalpha-reactive cells clearly exceeded the number of preadipocytes. Seeding and plating in dexamethasone (DEX) + FBS from d 0 to 3 markedly increased the proportions and numbers of preadipocytes and C/EBPalpha-reactive cells compared to seeding and plating in FBS, d 0 to 3. The number of C/EBPalpha- and C/EBPbeta-reactive cells and preadipocyte reactivity for C/EBPbeta decreased with insulin or DEX treatment, d 3 to 6, following FBS, d 0 to 3. However, insulin + DEX treatment, d 3 to 6, maintained the number of C/EBPalpha-reactive cells and either maintained or increased preadipocyte reactivity for C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta. DEX and DEX + insulin treatment induced recruitment of a similar number of preadipocytes, but preadipocytes were not reactive for C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta in DEX-treated cultures. The number of C/EBPdelta reactive cells did not change from d 3 to 6 and was not influenced by hormone treatment. After DEX + FBS, d 0 to 3, the high numbers of C/EBPalpha-reactive cells and preadipocytes were maintained by insulin treatment alone. Western blot analysis for C/EBPalpha confirmed the immunocytochemical results. Double staining demonstrated that expression of C/EBPalpha protein was maximized before or at the onset of lipid accretion, whereas expression of C/EBPbeta protein was correlated with lipid accretion. These results indicate that coupling or integration of preadipocyte recruitment with C/EBPalpha expression may be a critical step in glucocorticoid-induced adipogenesis.     

小尾寒羊SP1基因克隆及其对前体脂肪细胞分化的影响

试验旨在对小尾寒羊特异性蛋白1（specificity protein 1,SP1）基因进行克隆和序列分析,并研究SP1基因对前体脂肪细胞分化的影响。选取1月龄小尾寒羊尾部脂肪组织进行前体脂肪细胞的分离、培养和诱导分化;用重叠PCR法克隆SP1基因编码区（coding DNA sequence,CDS）;用生物信息学软件分析SP1基因CDS,并对其编码蛋白的结构、功能结构域、亚细胞定位、翻译后修饰进行预测;用慢病毒包装SP1基因过表达、干扰及对照质粒转染293T细胞后,收取病毒液感染小尾寒羊前体脂肪细胞;用油红O染色检测脂滴沉积能力;用实时荧光定量PCR检测SP1基因和成脂标志基因的mRNA表达量。结果表明,小尾寒羊SP1基因CDS全长2 340 bp,编码779个氨基酸;序列相似性分析显示,小尾寒羊SP1基因CDS及其编码序列与绵羊、山羊的相似性最高,其次是牛、马、猪、人、小鼠、大鼠,与鸡的相似性最低,系统进化分析结果与之相符;SP1蛋白定位于细胞核,有109个磷酸化位点,其二级结构由α-螺旋、β-转角、无规则卷曲和延伸链4种结构组成,所占比例分别为16.94%、8.60%、54.17%和20.28%,二级结构和三级结构均存在3个锌指结构域;过表达、干扰及对照质粒转染293T细胞,每组细胞皆出现较强绿色荧光,载体成功转染至293T细胞;病毒液感染小尾寒羊前体脂肪细胞并分化12 d后,过表达组SP1基因表达量极显著高于对照组（P<0.01）,干扰组SP1基因表达量极显著低于对照组（P<0.01）;过表达SP1基因极显著上调成脂标志基因mRNA的表达量（P<0.01）,产生更多脂滴;干扰SP1基因则结果相反。因此,SP1基因对小尾寒羊尾部前体脂肪细胞分化具有正向调控的作用。     

miR-140-5p对前脂肪细胞3T3-L1成脂分化的机制研究

【目的】研究miR-140-5p在前脂肪细胞(3T3-L1)成脂分化过程中的功能及其作用机制。【方法】待3T3-L1细胞汇合度达100%时诱导其成脂分化,收集分化第―1(诱导分化前1 d)、0、1、2、3、5、7天的细胞,用实时荧光定量PCR检测miR-140-5p相对表达量;将miR-140-5p mimics、NC转染3T3-L1细胞并诱导成脂分化,油红O染色观察脂滴形成情况,实时荧光定量PCR检测成脂标志基因CAAT增强子结合蛋白β(C/EBPβ)、CAAT增强子结合蛋白δ(C/EBPδ)与过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ(PPARγ)相对表达量;利用miRandn和TargetScan在线网站预测miR-140-5p的靶基因;通过对比序列差异分析P300/CBP相关因子(PCAF)的3′-UTR序列中与miR-140-5p的结合位点序列在小鼠、人等不同物种间的序列保守性。将miR-140-5p mimics、inhibitor、NC转染3T3-L1细胞并诱导成脂分化,实时荧光定量PCR检测miR-140-5p、PCAF相对表达量,Western blotting检测PCAF蛋白水平...     

不同生物素水平对3T3-L1脂肪细胞脂肪分解及相关基因表达的影响

为研究不同生物素水平对3T3-L1脂肪细胞脂肪分解及相关基因表达的影响，本试验利用三联诱导法将3T3-L1细胞经诱导分化为3T3-L1脂肪细胞。当3T3-L1脂肪细胞密集后分别采用0（对照组）、0.2、0.5、1.0 μmol/L生物素处理，分别在12、24与48 h时检测细胞上清液中甘油释放量、脂肪甘油三酯水解酶（ATGL）、激素敏感性脂肪酶（HSL）、脂滴包被蛋白A （perilipin A）及脂肪分化相关蛋白（ADRP）相对表达量。结果显示，在12 h时，1.0 μmol/L组甘油释放量、ATGL基因mRNA相对表达量均极显著低于对照组（P<0.01），0.5、1.0 μmol/L组HSL基因mRNA相对表达量显著低于对照组（P<0.05），1.0 μmol/L组perilipin A、ADRP基因mRNA相对表达量均极显著高于对照组与0.2 μmol/L组（P<0.01）；在24 h时，各试验组甘油释放量、1.0 μmol/L组ATGL基因mRNA相对表达量均极显著低于对照组（P<0.01），0.5、1.0 μmol/L组perilipin A基因mRNA相对表达量极显著高于对照组与0.2 μmol/L组（P<0.01）；1.0 μmol/L组ADRP基因mRNA相对表达量极显著高于其他组（P<0.01）；在48 h时，1.0 μmol/L组甘油释放量、ATGL基因mRNA相对表达量均极显著或显著低于对照组（P<0.01；P<0.05），1.0 μmol/L组perilipin A基因mRNA相对表达量显著高于对照组与0.2 μmol/L组（P<0.05），0.5、1.0 μmol/L组ADRP基因mRNA相对表达量极显著高于对照组（P<0.01）。综上所述，生物素可通过促进perilipin A与ADRP表达，同时抑制ATGL与HSL表达，达到抑制脂肪分解的效果，且浓度为1.0 μmol/L时效果最佳。     

小窝蛋白-1在猪前体脂肪细胞分化中的作用及其机理

以体外培养1日龄猪皮下前体脂肪细胞为研究对象,通过脂质体LipofectamineTM2000介导小窝蛋白-1（Caveolin-1,CAV1）过表达载体pEGFP-N1-CAV1及CAV1的干扰片段siRNA-CAV1分别转染猪皮下前体脂肪细胞,采用RT-PCR定量分析转染后24、48、72、96h的CAV1mRNA表达量以及转染后72h脂肪细胞分化相关基因的mRNA表达量;其后又进行了CAV1过表达或干扰且诱导分化后甘油三脂含量以及脂肪细胞分化相关基因的mRNA表达量测定。结果显示,过表达CAV1基因上调前体脂肪细胞分化相关基因PPARγ、C/EBPβ、AP2、GPDH的表达量,干扰CAV1基因下调C/EBPβ、PPARγ、AP2、LPL、VLDLR的表达量;诱导分化后干扰组C/EBPβ、LPL、VLDLR的表达量仍显著降低,而甘油三脂含量检测结果说明过表达CAV1基因能促进脂肪细胞分化,提示CAV1可能通过C/EBPβ、LPL、VLDLR等基因影响猪前体脂肪细胞分化。     

NR1H3基因调控猪前体脂肪细胞分化的研究

旨在探讨NR1H3基因在猪脂肪组织中的发育性表达规律及对猪前体脂肪细胞成脂分化的影响,以确定其在脂肪沉积过程中的主要功能。本研究采用qRT-PCR方法检测30、90、240日龄马身猪皮下脂肪组织中NR1H3的发育性表达规律;采集5日龄杜长大仔猪背部脂肪组织,分离猪前体脂肪细胞;通过细胞免疫荧光技术检测细胞中Adiponectin含量以鉴定细胞的纯度;构建猪NR1H3基因的过表达载体,设计NR1H3 siRNA序列,分别转染分离得到的猪前体脂肪细胞,采用qRT-PCR、Western blot和油红O染色等方法检测过表达和干扰效率及它们对成脂分化关键基因表达的影响。结果表明,马身猪皮下脂肪组织中NR1H3的表达量随日龄增加呈上升趋势,30日龄时表达量最低,240日龄时表达量最高,差异极显著(P<0.01)。与对照组相比,猪前体脂肪细胞中过表达NR1H3,脂肪细胞的脂滴数明显增多,下游靶标SREBP-1c和ChREBP的表达量极显著提高(P<0.01),且成脂关键基因FAS、C/EBPβ、PPARγ和FABP4的mRNA表达量极显著提高(P<0.01),促进成脂过程;相反,干扰NR1H3基因,脂滴数明显减少,下游靶标及成脂关键基因的mRNA表达量极显著下调(P<0.01),抑制成脂过程。本研究表明,NR1H3基因是猪前体脂肪细胞成脂分化的正调节剂,通过影响其下游靶标SREBP-1c和ChREBP的表达而影响成脂分化,研究结果对阐明猪脂肪沉积的分子机理、改善肉质品质有重要意义。     

Recruitment and differentiation of intramuscular preadipocytes in stromal-vascular cell cultures derived from neonatal pig semitendinosus muscles

The present study examined the influence of dexamethasone (DEX) treatment on preadipocyte recruitment and expression of CCAAT/enhancing binding protein-alpha (C/EBPalpha) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) proteins in stromal-vascular (SV) cell cultures derived from neonatal subcutaneous adipose tissue and semitendinosus muscles. One adipose tissue SV cell culture and one semitendinosus muscle SV cell culture were established from each of six young pigs (5 to 7 d of age). Conventional SV cell-culture procedures were used to digest adipose and muscle tissue and to harvest and culture adipose and muscle SV cells. Muscles were digested after the removal of all visible connective tissue from the excised muscle. One hour after seeding, muscle SV cell cultures were rinsed and refed new media to remove debris and insoluble muscle protein. The SV cell cultures were double-stained for lipid and the AD-3 antibody, a preadipocyte marker, at 1, 3, and 6 d and were double-stained for lipid and C/EBPalpha or PPARgamma at d 6. Preadipocytes were randomly distributed and not clustered after 1 d in muscle and adipose SV cultures. Regardless of treatment, relative and absolute fat cell numbers were lower (P < 0.05) in muscle than in adipose-SV cell cultures. The DEX treatments produced similar magnitudes of increase in relative and absolute preadipocytes and adipocytes in muscle- and adipose-SV cultures. Several extracellular matrix substrata had no influence on adipogenesis in muscle-SV cell cultures. These studies indicate that muscle-SV cultures are characterized by a low number of adipocytes under basal conditions and a low number of glucocorticoid-responsive preadipocytes.     

Effect of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 overexpression in 3T3-L1 is associated to an increase in mono-unsaturated fatty acid accumulation

Background

Fatty acid (FA) composition is the most important parameter affecting the flavor and nutritional value of the meat. The final and the only committed step in the biosynthesis of triglycerides is catalyzed by diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2). The role of DGAT2 in lipid accumulation has been demonstrated in adipocytes, However, little is known about the effect of DGAT2 on the FA composition of these cells.

Methods

To investigate the role of DGAT2 in regulating lipid accumulation, FA composition and the expression of adipogenic genes, we cloned the open reading frame of the porcine DGAT2 gene and established 3T3-L1 cells that overexpressed DGAT2. Cells were then cultured in differentiation medium (DM) without FA, with a mixture of FAs (FA-DM), or containing a ¹³C stable isotope-labeled FA mixture (IFA-DM). The FA composition of adipocytes was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Quantitative PCR and western blotting were employed to detect expression of adipogenic genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes cultured with FA-DM for 12 d.

Results

The triacylglyceride (TAG) content was significantly higher in 3T3-L1 adipocytes overexpressing DGAT2 than in control cells. When cultured in DM or FA-DM for 12 d, cells overexpressing DGAT2 showed a higher proportion of unsaturated FAs (C16:1 and C18:1). However, when cells overexpressing DGAT2 were cultured with FA-DM for 30 min, the FA composition was almost identical to that of controls. Further, the proportion of stable isotope-labeled FAs were similar in 3T3-L1 adipocytes overexpressing DGAT2 and control cells cultured in IFA-DM for 12 d. These results collectively indicate that the higher proportion of mono-unsaturated FAs, C16:1 and C18:1, may originate from de novo FA synthesis but not from the uptake of specific FAs from the medium. This hypothesis is further supported by evidence that both mRNA and protein expression of genes involved in FA synthesis (ACACA, FASN, SCD1, and A-FABP) were significantly higher in cells overexpressing DGAT2 than in control cells.

Conclusions

In conclusion, our study revealed that TAG accumulation, the proportion of MUFAs, and the expression of adipogenic genes were higher in 3T3-L1 cells overexpressing DGAT2 than in control cells.     

The effects of concentrations of lysine in media on differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes

Intramuscular fat content is increased by feeding of low lysine diets in pigs. Reduction in dietary lysine intake results in low plasma lysine concentration and low cytosolic lysine concentration in skeletal muscles. From these observations, we hypothesized that low plasma lysine concentration in pigs fed on low lysine diets reduced supply of lysine from blood circulation to preadipocytes, and this limited supply of lysine might promote adipocyte differentiation in porcine muscles. In order to verify the hypothesis, we investigated the effects of low concentrations of lysine in culture medium on differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes. Low concentration of lysine suppressed lipid accumulation and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and enzyme activity of fatty acid synthase. mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) were lower in cells cultured in low lysine medium. On the other hand, mRNA and protein expressions of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ were not inhibited by low concentrations of lysine in culture medium. These results indicate that low lysine concentrations in culture medium inhibit differentiation of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes through inhibiting the mRNA expressions of PPARγ and C/EBPα.     

Restoration of the adipogenic gene expression by naringenin and naringin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

BackgroundNaringenin and its glycoside naringin are well known citrus flavonoids with several therapeutic benefits. Although the anti-adipogenic effects of naringenin and naringin have been reported previously, the detailed mechanism underlying their anti-adipogenesis effects is poorly understood.ObjectivesThis study examined the anti-adipogenic effects of naringenin and naringin by determining differential gene expression patterns in these flavonoids-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes.MethodsLipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content were determined by Oil red O staining and TG assay. Glucose uptake was measured using a 2-[N-(7-Nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose fluorescent d-glucose analog. The phosphorylation levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl Co-A carboxylase (ACC) were observed via Western blot analysis. Differential gene expressions in 3T3-L1 adipocytes were evaluated via RNA sequencing analysis.ResultsNaringenin and naringin inhibited both lipid accumulation and TG content, increased phosphorylation levels of both AMPK and ACC and decreased the expression level of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that 32 up-regulated (> 2-fold) and 17 down-regulated (< 0.6-fold) genes related to lipid metabolism, including Acaca, Fasn, Scd1, Mogat1, Dgat, Lipin1, Cpt1a, and Lepr, were normalized to the control level in naringenin-treated adipocytes. In addition, 25 up-regulated (> 2-fold) and 25 down-regulated (< 0.6-fold) genes related to lipid metabolism, including Acaca, Fasn, Fabp5, Scd1, Srebf1, Hmgcs1, Cpt1c, Lepr, and Lrp1, were normalized to the control level by naringin.ConclusionsThe results indicate that naringenin and naringin have anti-adipogenic potentials that are achieved by normalizing the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes that were perturbed in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells.     

牦牛不同部位前体脂肪细胞分离鉴定及分化关键基因表达研究

旨在建立牦牛皮下和肌内前体脂肪细胞的体外研究模型,并检测两部位前体脂肪细胞分化过程中关键基因表达量差异,为研究牦牛不同部位脂肪沉积的分子机制提供试验材料和理论依据.本研究通过采取5头18～22月龄健康麦洼公牦牛的皮下脂肪组织和背最长肌组织,利用胶原酶消化,分离皮下和肌内前体脂肪细胞,随后根据细胞来源将细胞分为肌内组和皮...     

Expression of leptin mRNA and CCAAT-enhancer binding proteins in response to insulin deprivation during preadipocyte differentiation in primary cultures of porcine stromal-vascular cells

The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between CCAAT-enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) and leptin gene expression in response to insulin deprivation in preadipocytes and adipocytes. Adipose tissue from 7 d-old pigs was digested enzymatically and stromal-vascular (S-V) cells were seeded and plated for 3 d in fetal bovine serum (FBS) with dexamethasone (DEX) followed by 6 d (Days 3–9) in serum-free medium with insulin (850 nM or 10 nM), transferrin, and selenium. During FBS+DEX treatment (Days 0–3) a large number of preadipocytes develop with no lipid accretion. In contrast, preadipocyte number does not change with lipid accretion during insulin treatment (Days 3–9). Total RNA and cells were harvested from S-V cultures after periods with and without insulin after FBS+DEX. Northern-blotting and Western blot analysis were used to study leptin mRNA and C/EBP protein expression in cultures, respectively. Insulin deprivation from Days 3–4 reduced leptin mRNA and C/EBP- protein expression. Treatment with 850 nM or 10 nM insulin from Days 3–9 induced leptin mRNA and C/EBP- expression at a similar level. In cultures treated with 10 nM insulin from Days 3–7, leptin and C/EBP- expression were reduced markedly by insulin deprivation from Days 7–9, but were restored by insulin treatment for 6 hr before harvesting. The restoration of leptin expression by insulin was blocked by cycloheximide treatment. However, C/EBP-β protein levels did not change regardless of insulin deprivation. Insulin deprivation from Days 7–9 in cultures treated with 850 nM insulin from Days 3–7 did not influence C/EBP- or leptin mRNA expression, whereas C/EBP- and leptin expression were reduced after treating these cultures with 1.5 uM okadaic acid for 45 min before harvesting on Day 9. However, cycloheximide treatment for 6 hr before harvesting did not reduce leptin mRNA expression. These results suggest that 1) leptin expression is positively correlated with C/EBP- expression, and 2) the maintenance of leptin expression after insulin deprivation in 850 nM insulin-treated cultures on Day 9 may be associated with the presence of C/EBP- expression and/or activation.